Tags: and NC Preliminary Pageant, beauty pageant, complaint, little miss beauty pageant, Miss Teen Raleigh, Nicole Rachelle, Not recommended, pageant, Pageant Awareness U.S.A. Association, Raleigh Pageant Preliminary office, REJOICE Performing Arts Studio & Talent Agency, scam
I competed in this pageant back in 1990 (Not the Raleigh pageant, but another state). I think the fact they are still around 21 years later, speaks volumes! I won photogenic and got a $1200 scholarship to Barbizon. I also won 3rd runner up in my age group. I had fun and it was the start of my pageant career, which included Miss America. There are certain things to keep in mind about any pageant you or your child enters.
1. Pageants are expensive. There are so many ways to keep the costs down, including sponsors. If you can’t afford to enter, you should not enter.
2. Pageants are a business. They are in the business of making money. Some pageants are non-profit (Miss America) but that doesn’t mean they are free (or even cheap). There are some inexpensive pageants out there, do your research.
3. Good pageants are around year after year, bad pageants disappear overnight.
4. A pageant system may have many offices, especially large pageants such as Nationals, Inc. Some systems are franchises and you may be dealing with a number of different offices.
5. Everyone wants to win, but only one person will win. That means there will be a large number of ticked off parents. These parents will have no problem calling the pageant a scam. I doubt they would have the same to say if it was their child that had won.
6. Going on to the national pageant will be even more expensive. You do have the right to say “no”. Yup, it’s that simple. “No.”
7. If you think you have been wronged, go ahead and sue. You will have to go to small claims court. As soon as the judge sees your signature on the consent form, it’s over for you. I suggest you read AND understand what you sign. “I didn’t read it” doesn’t stand up in court.
I hate seeing posts like this because it’s clear that the posters usually have no understanding of pageants, no experience in pageants, and, frankly, have no business being in pageants. Rarely are there any legitimate complaints that can’t be chalked up to “sour grapes”.
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Yes my daughter is the winner of the Miss Northern Indiana Teen, and she is planning on attending Nationals. I will say yes, it is costly, yes, they have a veriation of trianing. I have to agree with Michelle, if the company has been around this long they have to be doing something right. I have called the BBB, over a three year period they have had 17 complaints. If you think about the fact that they have pageants all over the country, with over 100 girls at each pageant 17 complaints is pretty good. One of those complaints was that the convention center the pageant was held at only had 2 stales in the restroom. How petty is that, Cities of America has nothing to do with how great the bathroom is. Most of the complaints are from parents of daughters that didn’t place or win. THe only complaint I had was that I was not allowed in the back after the pageant to get pictures of my daughter with the other girls, an the judges. We are looking forward to our trip. I hope that my daughter has a good time, and comes home with a crown. Or we will come home with SOUR GRAPES
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The same pageant was held in Maine and it was wonderful. The only negative thing I have to say is the choice of judges. I actually met some of them after the pageant (small world) and they told me what they were looking for. They were just the volonteers and it’s was more of the personal opinion. This pageant is more down to earth and based on the personality, a lot of girls who placed well weren’t that beautiful and put together, but seemed very nice. I agree it’s expensive, but that’s how it is, I don’t think it’s meant to be for free, they are making money, it’s a business. We are going to Florida this December, and I am looking forward to spend time with my daughter, I don’t care if she wins, we are just going to have fun. It’s nothing wrong to share the room with the stranges, that’s how you make new friends. Remember the summer camp days, it’s more fun this way. I thought it was nice that the kids can raise the money and ask for donations, our local businesses were very supportive. If you look for glamor and modeling deals, this pageant probably is not for you, but if you look for fun and experience, making new friends and you want to feel good about yourself with out presure and you can afford it, go for it, you will have a memory of the lifetime. We are so tuned to see the negativity everywhere, no wonder some people have such high expectation, you set your self up to fail. They offer the cost upfront and you don’t have to participate if you are not happy with it.
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Sorry for the spelling, I was writing fast and didn’t have my spellcheck on)))))
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Michelle and Olga,
You are misinformed. I am a Director for a National Scouting company and know very much about pageants and talent scouting … the good, the bad, and the ugly. The legitimate, and the illegitimate, and the one that totes the line. Actually released myself from the latter as I learned from the inside out how grotequely this talent scouting company was over charging the contetants to make a buck … and ot to pay their workers. No, no. But to fattent the owner’s wallet. Cities of America is much of the same. Having an A+ BBB rating means nothing and is very easy to do and they do it: slightly change their names every couple of years which means they need a new business license. The BBB automaticllay begins any business that can prove they are a busienss with an A rating. Why? Because they pay the annual fee to BBB. As the old name gets complaints, the name is “shut down” and the new modified name (but same busienss” carries on.
If Cities of America was legitimate, their owner and those who work directly under him would not pass the back back and forth … then have their phones from VA, FL, and PA disconnected … not to mention stop responding to their own fb page. Oh, and the little matter of their rep, Rochelle, being in mulitple places at the same time doing the presentation. As far as the money goes, ANY legitimate company will tell you the cost UP FRONT and NOT at the last minute.
Yes, there ARE legitimate pageants. This is NOT one of them. I have a very hard time believing that your daughter, Michelle, has ever been the winner of the National Miss America Pageant through this company. If so, please DO share her name. I would love to speak with her.
Sponsorships are GREAT … just call them what they are … but not FREE!!! Free means that the one offering it to you is paying the cost in your stead. Anything else expected is a manipulation of the mind. Period. For my own business we have sponsors … and we do NOT call it FREE for one very good reason. It is NOT free. The sponsors have to pay. Cities of America should do the same, however, they know that they would not get the parents and little ones through the front door for their initial “presentation.” They were so misleading on so many levels, it’s pathetic that you would even hint that you think they legitimate.
Yes, my child was a 1st runner up, but it was of no honor because there really was no competition. We are not “winner seekers” in that it is our drive. It was simply something she wanted to fiddle with … so I allowed her. She has since (due to her true training at REAL performing arts institutions) been signed with three agents in three different states and has booked principle role for a TV Commercial. We leave this scam of a company completely off of her resume’.
In regard to suing, I simply have not had time with a very busy family and business schedule. The win would not be for me … or even my daughter … just to expose this company more. The amount of money is not the issue. The principle of the matter is. And the principle is that they get off on exploiting the emotions of young children and teens to earn millions of dollars (thousands per city).
In regard to the fine print in the paper that I DID read and sign stated the training my child would receive. It was NOT received and I can prove it. THEY have to prove that they did train my child. TRAIN … not coach … that’s in the paperwork, you see.
However, I am glad that by writing this article, now five people have called and pulled themeselves and/or their children out before going to nationals. The last being a young lady named April Carr that just emailed me last night (Dec. 13), and again today to that effect. She, too, experienced what I had … and others … from this company and did not pay the balance to go to Nationals. She is the current Miss Raleigh for this pageant. She, too, feels no honor in this title. By her own admittance, there was not competition. She was already trained by another commpany before going to the presentation.
Oh, by the way, to say that they gave you a scholarship to Barbizon is nothing to boast about since Barbizon is a scam as well as they move around from hotel to hotel. Yes, I have higher ups connected there as well and have shared first hand that what you have “won” is a freebie chance to learn how to do make up by every day joes who are NOT professional in the indusrty field at all. To prove it, simply ask those “training” your daugher in Barbizon of their credentials. I’d be interested in hearing it myself. Barbizon and Explore Talent among others are the leading SCAMS in the industry. How do I know? Had a chat with the OWNER and/or President of several Nationally acclaimed magazines (Trump, Elite, Ford, etc) with the National Talent Scouting company I work for … they will share their thoughts in regard to BOTH companies. So will legitimate top notch talent LA and NY Talent and Modeling Agencies. Cannot give names on this because they are public figures. You may choose to believe it or not … but I know for a FACT that both are scams because of my connections as well as from the inside out connections planted in both.
So, yes, there are DEFINITELY legitimate pageants! Cities of America simply is not one of them. My whole goal is for everyone to thoroughly investigate ANY talent scouting company or pageantry before entering. I’m glad I experienced first hand what I did because now I can share about it and hopefull cause others to think twice and investigate BEFORE taking your child to any such presentation. If at all plausible, leave your impressionable child or teen at home while YOU and HUBBY go to the presentation to check it out. Even then, investigate before you go.
So, Michelle and Olga, I am elated that you had positive experiences with this company. I am sorry that they have succeeded in making you think them to be legitimate. But as long as you are content with what you are getting, then so be it. I am sincerely pleased for you. For everyone else, weigh both sides, investigate, and make your own educated decision.
PS excuse all typos. It is late
. Good night 
from Facebook Page (note the last date they were on it in 2010 … one would have to assume that it’s due to the negative comments on their wall from contestant’s parents):
http://www.facebook.com/#!/nicolerochelle2010
It is Feb. 19, 2012. I just received my 6th phone call from a concerned parent in regard to enrolling his child in this poor excuse of a pageant. His name is Tony from LA. The call was recorded as voicemail at appr. 3:15 EST. I returned the call several hours later.
Tony, with your living in LA, you have access to real acting and training classes that have legitimate brick and mortar buildings with no need to travel from city to city … state to state …. using hotels to set up shop for a few days, and leave. The legititmate Talent Scouting Companies that do have a brick and mortar home office somewhere.
I am currentl training a LA talent of ours via Skype in regard to learning the business end of the performing arts business (protocol, etiquette, do’s and don’ts at an audition, creating a professional resume, how to submit a professional video audition, etc) in addition to different styles of acting skills to portray a character believably … and skills needed for runway and print models. She is also taking traditional acting classes and has a regional LA Talent Agent that was not very helpful. My guess is it was because she was a fresh face with no training and they likely have many on their data that are already trained. That’s my professional guess.
However, this did not slow down or discourage Tanisha. Since I have been training her, she has since booked print modeling gigs on her own
. She has also recently been accepted to sign with Affintiy Modeling Agency. My guess is her regional agent will soon be sending her out on auditions 
I, too, have contacts in LA, but mainly serve the Southeast and some Northern states (NYC) with our talents. However, Tanisha is so quick, she has not needed my help creating audition opportuniites for herself using some internet software for actors. I’m elated for her!
This may be a slower pace way you may want to consider for your child.
However, if you would like the name of a couple of legitimate Talent Scouting Companies that are reasonably priced for what you get, I’ll be glad to share them with you. They really do set your child up to showcase her/his talent in front of reputable and some nationally reknown Regional and National Industry Professionals … and a few that are International from Milan, Italy and Paris, France.
Some that are legitimate, however, are grossly over charging their contestants in order for the owner to make an easy buck … and then offer classes AFTER the event for an extra cost. Crazy! They have a good product in their service, but are just greedy for monetary gain and uses religion to push their company.
Do not despair. There are normal priced ones out there with good service as well. You simply have to research and find the one that may best meet your needs … or do it the traditional way and simply enroll your child in a reputable acting school that teaches the industry as well as the training effectively. Best way to find out is ask of at least 3 people that have been through the program and see what they have to say about it. Word of mouth is absolutely the best form of advertisement.
I hope this helps … and wish you the absolute best for your child!